Former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke is dominating national political discussions following a sharp back-and-forth exchange with Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri over the construction terrain, engineering costs, and financial priorities of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway.
The political debate sparked viral media coverage after Governor Diri publicly dismissed Duke's technical warnings regarding the project's route through the Niger Delta:
- Duke's Swamp & Bridge Warnings: In an interview on Arise Television, Duke cautioned that routing the highway through Bayelsa's heavy swamp terrain—including the capital, Yenagoa—would require building 100 to 200 bridges, driving costs skyward. He advocated prioritizing the rehabilitation of existing inland Lagos–Calabar routes instead.
- The "Local Champion" Retort: After Governor Diri defended the project by declaring swamp roads buildable and alleging political motives, Duke retorted by calling Diri a "local champion". Duke emphasized that his assessment came from a national economic perspective rather than regional sentiment.
- Ministerial Redesigns as "Vindication": Duke declared himself vindicated after Works Minister Dave Umahi publicly acknowledged severe ground condition challenges along the coastal alignment that required engineering redesigns. Duke urged Diri to focus on transparent answers regarding project financing and resource allocation for the Niger Delta rather than politicizing valid engineering concerns.
Sources: Vanguard News, The Sun Nigeria, THISDAY Live
#DonaldDuke #DouyeDiri #LagosCalabarHighway #CoastalRoad #DaveUmahi #NigeriaInfrastructure
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